Agartala, Dec 08, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Dec 08: Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Haora River Front Development Project under CITIIS (City Investments to Innovate Integrate and Sustain) Program of Agartala Smart City Limited.

Haora river flows through the center of Agartala city and is used as a source of drinking water for the major part of the city, apart from being nerve centre of religious rituals of the citizens of Agartala.

However, at present most of the river stretches is inaccessible and is polluted due to disposal od solid and liquid waste.

The very old earthen embankment of the river which was constructed for prevention of flood in the Agartala city is eroded and was encroached by dwellers in various parts.

Speaking on the occasion, Agartala Municipal Commissioner Sailesh Kumar Yadav said, “The Haora River Front Development project is being implemented by Agartala Smart City Limited covering a river stretch of 1.7km to develop an ecologically sustainable riverfront from the Steel Bridge to Dashami Ghat”.

“This project is under CITIIS program which is a joint program of French Development Agency, European Union, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and National Institute of Urban Affairs as a Project Management Unit”.

Yadav further added, “Agartala Smart City Limited has already completed maturation phase and entered into the implementation phase of few works that includes; Improvement of Haora River Bank, Bed Protection, Construction of Pedestrian Bridges, Roads and Architectural Works at a cost of Rs 84.39 Crore, Construction of In-situ Nalla Waste water treatment plants at a cost of Rs 1.53 Crore, Development of Horticulture Project through Organic Farming at a cost of Rs 0.42 Crores”.

Addressing at the foundation laying ceremony Tripura chief minister DR Manik Saha said, “The things that we earlier imagined in our dreams are now a reality. The Agartala city has drastically changed under Agartala Smart City Limited project and the people of Tripura are now witnessing development in real terms”.

“The Haora River Front Development Project will develop aesthetic tourist destination through creation of public open space and redefine the identity of Agartala”, he added.

The chief minister also spoke about successful governance in the first tenure of the BJP-led government adding that the government is working to deliver all sorts of benefit to the last man of the society.

The chief minister also congratulated BJP-led Agartala Municipal Corporation for successfully completing 1 year tenure.

Talking about the benefits of HFRD project the officials mentioned, “Prevention of flood erosion, river bank erosion and strengthening of existing embankment, In-situ nallah treatment for making the river water pollution free, resettlement flood prone riverside slum dwellers (87HHs) at Radhanagar Abasan with provisions of pucca houses and monetary compensation for livelihood loss, creation of 3km pedestrian pathway, 1 km non-motorized cycle track, health park, bird aviary, etc. creation of user friendly public spaces for religious rituals at Dashamighat and crematorium, creation of floriculture and vegetable cultivation bed through organic farming in the river bank area and many more”.

Along with the chief minister, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation, Dipak Majumder, Deputy Mayor Manika Das Dutta, MLA Surajit Dutta, local Corporator, officials of Agartala Smart City Limited remained present at the program.